In Japan, you can find the company Hoshino Gakki which has become known for their line of electric guitars known as Ibanez. It was back in 1908 that Hoshino Gakki entered into the music industry when they first began by selling musical instruments for Hoshino Shoten.
However, it would not be until 1929 that the name Ibanez would become known. It was at this time that the company began to import Spanish-made guitars known as the Salvador Ibáñez. Unfortunately, soon afterwards the Spanish Civil War broke out and the factory was destroyed.
It was at this time that Hoshino Gakki made the decision to purchase the brand name rights so that they could begin the production of thier own. By 1935, the Ibanez Salvador was being sold throughout Japan.
It was in 1957 that the modern era for Ibanez Guitars would come to. During this time they began creating some of the wildest designs available on the market. While many of the other Japanese guitar manufacturers were simply copying European designs, Ibanez stood out fo their radica, unique and interesting designs.
By the mid-1960’s the Ibanez designs began to follow suit with those of the American’s like Fender and Gibson as a means of staying competative. This was the same era that the first Japanese motorcycles and other japanes made products would become widely available in the the Western World. Because of this the company faced a number of lawsuits for copying the designs of the big name manufacturers and so they chose to begin making their own designs. Ever since the 1960’s every single Ibanez guitar has been designed without any influence from their competitors.
It would be the 1980’s that Ibanez would really make a name for themselves thanks to the relationship between Hoshino Gakki, the parent company, the famous guitarist Frank Zappa. This relationship led to the creation of the Ibanez IEM as well as Universe. While based on the earlier designs of Roadster and Iceman, they were none the less a very successful design.
Ibanez Guitars also moved into the acoustic guitar industry whenh they began producing their own lines of both nylon as well as steel-stinged guitars. The Tama acoustic guitar was produced from 1974 until 1979; at a drum factory of all places. In 1979 Their guitar line was changed to the Artwood Series.
The same factory which Ianez produced the vast majority of their electric guitars also became the home for Roland synthesizers. The FujiGen factory produced the Stratocaster-style Roland G-505, the Ibanez X-ING IMG-2010 as well as the twin humbucker Roland G-202.
Today Ibanez produces a number of lines of electric guitars, bases, acoustic guitars, amps and much more. Their continuing commitment to excellence in the music industry has iven them a spot amongst the greatest names in guitars like Fender, Gibson and even Yamaha. Their older lines have also become quite a bit of a collectors item with fans seeking them out in Japan to bring back to their home country.
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